Introduction Days
In your first days in Gothenburg, there will be lots to do and absorb. This page provides information about activities for newly arrived students that are held at the start of the semester. The University Welcome Programme, social activities arranged by student buddies and student associations. There is also quite a lot of administrative tasks you need to take care of as a new student.
Welcome Programme
The International Student Welcome Programme is held at the beginning of each semester. The programme of events and activities provides international students with practical information about the University and living in Gothenburg. It is also a perfect opportunity to meet other international students and Student Buddies from all over the world.
Welcome Services, together with numerous student buddies, usually organise a pick-up service from Landvetter airport (GOT), the central station, and the ferry terminals.
The guaranteed moving-in date (17 January, noon) and the start of the semester (17 January, ca 9.00 am) coincides this year which means that we cannot organise a pick-up service to your accommodation.
However, it is easy to find your way from the airport, bus and train station via shuttle busses, trams etc. Read more about this on our transportation site. If you need to book accommodation before the start of the semester you can find hostels and hotels on Goteborg.com's website.
Transportation and getting around
Hostels and hotels in Gothenburg
Welcome Day took place on 18 January.
Programme:
- Welcome Speech by deputy vice-chancellor Pauli Kortteinen
- Student Portal and University e-services
- Servicecenter and the GU card
- Studies at the University of Gothenburg
- Student health care provider Feelgood introduces their services
- Student unions, what are they and why are they so important
- Welcome Services: newsletter and activities
- Unimeet Gothenburg
- Swedish language courses
- Language support from the Unit for Academic Language
- University Library
Link to recorded version of Welcome Day
Exploring to Gothenburg: history, areas, sights, and activities, 19 January 17.00-19.00 (CET)
Programme:
- Student budget in Gothenburg, with Alix.
Learn more about what costs to expect and how you can save money as a student - Exploring to Gothenburg: history, areas, sights, and activities, with Nils.
This will be a mix of live presentation and pre-recorded videos from different areas in the city. We will briefly cover why Gothenburg exists (history), and then look at different areas in Gothenburg and what you can see/do there. We will also talk about some activities you can do in the city, such as boardgames, language cafés and more. - Panel discussion with international students, moderated by Nils
You will be able to ask questions to the students on the panel, and also our speakers Nils and Alix.
P.S This event was previously called "Swedes and student life in Gothenburg". This presentation has been postponed due to illness. We will reschedule the presentation for a later date and will get back to you when we know more.
Date: 19 January
Time: 17:00-19:00 CET
Venue: Zoom Webinar.
Link to Zoom, Exploring to Gothenburg: history, areas, sights, and activities.
The Welcome Pack is a tote bag sporting the University of Gothenburg logo. They used to be black with the logo in white, but to make them even more environmentally friendly, we have switched to this beige one.
These bags are only given to international students, so if you see anyone with such a bag out in the city, you have probably just spotted another international student. Its contents includes a map of the city, a University of Gothenburg reflective slap wrap, a list of things to do while in Gothenburg, as well as various information about, for instance, public transport and recycling.
Pick up your Welcome Pack, spring 2022
The welcome packs are available for pick up at Servicecenter Haga, Sprängkullsgatan 19
NB: Don't forget to ask for a SIM card, should you need one! The SIM cards are recommended for students from non-EU countries, but available for all international students.
Keep yourself updated on the activities
